U.S. racers chase Boston's champs

BOSTON — It has now been two decades since Joan Benoit and Greg Meyer swept 1983 Boston Marathon titles for the United States.

No American man has won since then and a sweep hasn't even been hinted at since 1985, when Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach won the women's division and Gary Tuttle finished second in the men's.

The American dominance in Boston-- from seven-time winner Clarence DeMar up through "Boston Billy" Rodgers--has long since passed to the Kenyans, who have won 11 of the last 12 men's races and three consecutive women's.

But the women's race offers the U.S. its best hope in a decade of sharing in the winner's traditional beef stew and olive wreath. Defending champion Margaret Okayo, who broke Benoit Samuelson's course record last year by finishing in 2 hours, 20 minutes, 43 seconds, is back. But two-time winner Catherine Ndereba is not among a field that includes three Americans with a chance to finish in the top 10.

Marla Runyan and Milena Glusac are entered, along with Jill Gaitenby, a Boston College graduate who was the top American in Boston the last two years.

A strong finish would end a long drought for the U.S. men, which never failed to list a top 10 finisher in the first 90 years. But in 15 races since 1988, the first American has been among the top 10 only three times, never better than sixth.

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Chicago Marathon

If you're planning to run the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12, you can register at www.chicagomarathon.com. Registration will close Sept. 2, or when the field of runners reaches the maximum of 40,000 participants.